Statement by ACE President Molly Corbett Broad on the Ninth Circuit’s Ruling in O’Bannon v. NCAA

September 30, 2015

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​“There will be various legal interpretations of today’s decision by the Ninth Circuit. But we are pleased to see that a key element of the ruling aligns with the principle we emphasized in our amicus brief filed last year: Student-athletes are first and foremost students, and transforming them into paid professionals would harm the quality of their overall educational experience. We believe the decision fundamentally reaffirms the NCAA’s interest in maintaining a tradition of amateurism among intercollegiate student-athletes.

There is a crucial distinction between providing the full cost of attendance and payments to student-athletes that are additional compensation for services rendered. That distinction is at the heart of this decision. The fact that NCAA member institutions already are allowed to offer athletic scholarships meeting the full cost of attendance is an example of how intercollegiate athletics continues to evolve in multiple ways. We look forward to being part of that process.”

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